Record year for Warwickshire County Cricket Club

Last year’s sell-out Ashes test match held at Edgbaston has helped Warwickshire County Cricket Club report record profits.

The 201415 year was a record financial year for the club with year-on-year turnover up 47% to £18.3m and EBITDA more than doubling (122%) to £3.7m.

The club has now increased turnover and EBITDA in the last three financial years following the redevelopment of Edgbaston Stadium.

Craig Flindall, finance director of Warwickshire CCC, said: “This was the first occasion that Edgbaston has hosted an Ashes Test Match since the £32m redevelopment in 2011.

“The new facilities and increased capacity has led to a £2.6m (17%) increase in turnover and £1.9m (108%) increase in EBITDA in comparison to 2009, when we last hosted the Ashes.

“Revenues from major match days are the main driver of the club’s turnover and, whilst we cannot replicate the impact of an Ashes Test Match every year, we have an excellent allocation of fixtures confirmed until 2019, which underpins our strategic plan and financial results for the coming years.”

Neil Snowball, chief executive, added: “Whilst hosting an Ashes Test Match is a great opportunity, the cub had to work very hard to maximise this opportunity; activities included the installation of a temporary stand to give even more spectators a chance to watch the match and new travel and catering initiatives that made the spectator experience more enjoyable.

“It is also very encouraging to be rewarded for the increased investment in T20 cricket. The regular opportunity to watch Birmingham Bears play on a Friday night and allowing under 16s in for free has made T20 cricket at Edgbaston a very exciting proposition, and we have ambitious plans to grow further in 2016.

“Away from cricket, our conference and events business also continues thrive, with revenues in 201415 increasing to a record level of more than £2.2m.”

Edgbaston will host England on two occasions in 2016 with a Royal London One Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka on Friday 24 June and an Investec Test Match against Pakistan between Wednesday 3 and Sunday 7 August.

The stadium will also host the biggest day in domestic cricket, with NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day on Saturday 20 August.